Logan, 2017.
Directed by James Mangold.
Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, and Richard E. Grant.
SYNOPSIS:
In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
Blood and gore has been severely lacking in the Wolverine films. Whilst it would seem odd to see the Avengers or Batman covered in blood, it always seemed off that Wolverine’s claws were shiny and perfect; despite him routinely gutting people and slicing off limbs. Finally with a 15 rating, audiences are treated to the first truly visceral and highly violent Wolverine film. Interestingly though, as violent as Logan is, it also has more heart and emotion than any other film in the X-Men universe.
It’s 2029 and for an unknown reason mutants are no longer being born. Logan (Jackman) is old and weary; looking after Professor X (Stewart) who is suffering from a brain disease and whose seizures cause injury to those within a certain radius. Logan has given up, and he keeps an adamantium bullet with him at all times. Then a young girl appears (Laura played by newcomer Dafne Keen) with a similar mutation to Logan and this unlikely trio go on the run.
Logan is at its core about family and finding peace and serenity amongst all the chaos. Seeing what Logan and Charles’ lives have become is horrifying and makes their unusually family bonding road trip with Laura all the more sentimental. The chemistry between Jackman and Stewart has never been better and there’s enough witty one liners and action sequences that it never feels over sentimental. In his tenth and final time playing Wolverine, Jackman’s performance is exquisite. It feels as if I grew up with the X-Men movies and Jackman’s performance as Wolverine is what made them so gripping and entertaining. Here we get to see a different side to Logan and Jackman plays this to perfection.
Whilst the other Wolverine films have been poorly executed and filled with tons of plots that don’t go anywhere; Logan is a simple story that is told exceptionally well. Mangold’s grittier take on the Wolverine makes it all the more gripping and the added violence that comes with a 15 rating is a welcome reprieve from the over edited, bloodless fights we’ve seen before. A minimalist score also sets the tone beautifully.
As the swan song for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine it is simply an exceptional piece of filmmaking: gripping, packed full of heart, violent and entertaining, it is stunning. The idea of someone else playing Logan is worrying but at the same time it’s a testament to Jackman that he knows when to stop and he has ended on a high.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Helen Murdoch
Originally published March 9, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
